Resztan hoping to go one step better at Elite Championships

TITLE CHALLENGE: New Astley Boxing Club's Demie-Jade Resztan will be among the favourites competing for the 46-48kg women's title at the National Senior Elite Championships at Liverpool's Echo Arena this weekend

Published:15:07Thursday 28 April 2016

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New Astley Boxing Club’s Demie-Jade Resztan will be hoping to go one step better at the National Senior Elite Championships this weekend.

The 19-year-old is one of five boxers battling for the 46-48kg title at Liverpool’s Echo Arena, with the three-day event starting tomorrow afternoon.

Resztan was beaten by a split decision against Tanya Brady in the final on her debut in the competition 12 months ago, and a rematch with the Earlsfield boxer could be on the cards this weekend.

New Astley’s head coach Mark O’Reilly believes it would be a fitting finale to see Resztan and Brady go up against each other again in Sunday’s final.

“Tanya and Demie are number one and two in the country,” he said. “It would make sense to keep them apart until the final, but it will all depend on how the draw is made on Friday.

“As Demie is the number two seed we would expect her not to fight until the Saturday, but we will be prepared to fight on Friday if that’s the way it works out.

“Demie was unlucky last year to get beat in the final. She might have nicked it on another day. It was a very close fight.

“This year she is bigger and stronger which could be the main factor. The weight she’s put on has all been muscle and it could make a massive difference. She’s not lost any of her speed or sharpness and has trained really hard.”

Following the weigh-ins tomorrow morning, the draw will take place for the tournament with three boxers set to be drawn straight through to Saturday’s semi-finals.

The other two boxers will compete tomorrow afternoon for the last place in the semi-finals, with the final being staged on Sunday.